Fig. 3.

Effects of F. nucleatum on the production of MMP12 and perforin in the lungs of elastase‐treated mice. Elastase‐ and PBS‐treated mice were administered either F. nucleatum or the vehicle (Mock). (A) The lungs were harvested at one, three, or seven days after the administration of F. nucleatum. Mmp12 mRNA expression in the lungs was determined using real‐time RT‐PCR. The values are presented as the mean ± SEM, n = 7. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001. Statistical significance was evaluated using one‐way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis. (B) The lungs were harvested three days after the administration of F. nucleatum. MMP12 protein expression was detected using western blotting of lung lysates. (C) BALF was harvested three days after exposure to F. nucleatum. Perforin protein expression was detected using western blotting of BALF.